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Kalutha

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  • 25
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I wish that everyone could listen to this

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 08-15-24

This is a fascinating book about the psychology of how cults use various techniques of mind control, written by a person who joined a cult as a young man, was gotten out of the cult, and became an expert on the topic and on helping people overcome the damages done by getting caught up in what he calls a "high control" situation. The book isn't only about Trump; it covers many situations where these mind control techniques have been used, and describes how they work and why they are effective. I am a psychologist, so it is fascinating for me to learn about this phenomenon. It is chilling to learn the specifics of how Trump has used several of these methods, essentially "hypnotizing" people with some of his rants, both in the words he uses and the patterns of what he's saying. This information should be taught in high schools and colleges so that people are more likely to be able to determine when someone is attempting to indoctrinate them in various ways. I will probably listen to this again in order to more thoroughly absorb the concepts.

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A phenomenal memoir

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 02-19-23

Probably the best memoir I have “read.” Yes, there were many disturbing events reported. I am shocked that some reviewers disbelieve that the events are true. We don’t want to believe that there are such dysfunctional and bizarre situations, but there are, and the author does a masterful job of describing the events and taking us inside her thought process and emotions. The reviewers who ask why she didn’t leave and why she kept returning don’t understand the nature and effects of trauma. I also don’t understand why some reviewers think the book was “boring,” as I found it riveting. And I don’t understand the characterization of the author as “playing the victim.” Her story is remarkable and inspirational.

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Unflinching honesty from an amazing woman

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 10-03-22

Viola Davis tells her story, from difficult childhood to movie star, and .doesn't hold back. Some readers might be upset by the descriptions of physical abuse of her mother by her father. Although it wasn't pleasant to hear about the poverty and hardships she faced, her ability to find a way out was evidence of her strong character. She worked long and hard to become an actor, and was very dedicated to her craft. What struck me the most about the book is how she describes what it is actually like to be an actor trying to make a living from doing plays and TV and eventually films. I was struck by how many plays she has done, and how she did many small parts in films before she was cast in better-known films such as The Help. This is probably what most actors go through, but I don't recall hearing about this process in so much detail, including how much (or little) she was making for different roles. I enjoyed hearing about her journey, both in acting and in her family life. She writes honestly about the challenges faced by Black women actors, and about her misgivings and mixed feelings about how The Help portrayed various aspects of the reality of life during the era portrayed in the film. She reveals how intimidated she was when she first acted with Meryl Streep, and I appreciated how vulnerable she allowed herself to be in describing her insecurities and struggles. Her honesty about her life sets this memoir apart from those that gloss over the rough spots in their lives. Listening to the book makes me want to seek out some of the lesser-known films she has made.

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A gripping view of an American tragedy

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 06-30-20

I decided to listen to this audiobook because I have a therapy client who lived through the experience. I watched a lot of the coverage of the event at the time it happened, including some of the harrowing videos made by people in the process of trying to get away from the fire. The book was well-written on many levels. It was the story of what happened on the day of the fire, both in terms of the movement of the fire and the personal stories of several individuals who lived in Paradise. The description of the decisions that people made about whether to leave or "wait it out" were interesting examples of how people weigh various kinds of information versus going with their gut feelings. There were tragic stories of people who stayed behind, including because they thought that they could save some of the homes, and the regret and guilty feelings of people who wish that they had insisted that their loved one leave while there was time. There were many stories of how people helped one another, some in heroic ways. And a description of the immediate and longer-term aftermath of the fire. Several aspects of this were, of course, very sad. I came away with an appreciation of the people who lived in Paradise, in their fierce independence, caring and respect for one another, and their love of their natural surroundings. Another layer of the book involved the political and economic aspects of the management and mismanagement of the fire by the electric company along with the inadequacy of the federal response in terms of emergency management. This information was woven throughout the story without detracting from it. The narrator was an excellent choice for this book. He had a sort of "grizzled" voice that fit perfectly with the story. He was able to convey the urgency of the situation during the suspenseful passages describing the height of the emergency and to adjust his pace and delivery for other sections. I listened to the book straight through.

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4 people found this helpful

Excellent book. Mediocre narrator.

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
1 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 03-04-20

Erik Larson is one of my favorite authors. This book is well-written and compelling, as are all of his books. He writes masterfully about the tendency of humans to display hubris and to be in denial in the face of danger or evil. This book is a particularly timely one, given our current national situation. I have listened to several of Larson's other books, including Devil in the White City, read by the masterful Scott Brick. I have read several other of the reviews of this audiobook, and no one mentions disliking the narrator, but I found his cadence to be "sing-songy," and his voice rather "wooden." He has a good enough voice, but in my opinion, doesn't know how to use it, in comparison to many other narrators. I found myself having to listen very closely and even replay sections, even when I was sitting and doing nothing but listening to the book, and I realized that it was because he wasn't bringing life to the words like many narrators do. I persisted with the book, but the narration really took away from my enjoyment of the book.

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2 people found this helpful

Such emotional honesty and bravery...

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 12-17-18

I have always liked Sally Fields, and it was wonderful to watch her take on increasingly challenging roles and display such a range of feelings in such different characters as her career has progressed. When we are watching actors, particularly ones who start out in happy-go-lucky roles like Gidget, we don't see them as people who have had difficult lives with significant traumatic experiences. I have never read a book where an author is so skilled in describing their emotions and thoughts in such a detailed and honest manner. It is impressive to me that she allowed herself to be so emotionally vulnerable, and I'm sure that her book will be helpful to people who have had similar traumas and struggles. Her description of two of her experiences of having a baby (one at the time when medical professionals controlled the process, and one after the Lamaze method came along and women advocated for their rights) really puts readers right inside her mind and body. Her writing is amazing, very poetic at times, and her reading of the book was mesmerizing. I agree with other reviewers who wish that she had gone into much more detail about the more recent decades of her life, and that the last part of the book seems rushed. This is why I rated the "story" with four stars instead of five. I hope that she puts out another edition of the book with the later time period described in more detail, or that she writes another book. I am sure that I will listen to this book again. I am going to rewatch her performances and view ones that I have not seen.

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Mind-blowingly good.

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 11-26-18

This is the best audiobook I have listened to, bar none. The combination of Wolfe's brilliant writing and the topnotch narration draws the listener completely into the story. Wolfe describes aspects of a scene in such detail that I really feel that I am there. Wolfe's ability to get inside the head of the protagonist and all of his neuroses is uncanny. Joe Barrett brings the story alive with his ability to speak in different accents with complete accuracy, perfectly conveying the humor of the story. Like the other reviewers have said, there is no way to describe the excellence of this audiobook. Just PURE FUN. And the 27 hour length? It flies by, and I don't want it to end. Just LISTEN!

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A New Classic of Feminist Writing.

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 10-14-18

This book is excellent, and it could not have been released at a better time, given the rage engendered by the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. I can imagine that the author will update the book to include her thoughts about this situation when the paperback version is released. She points out how the inability of women to express anger without being criticized and even demonized is one of the most significant roots of misogyny. I am extremely impressed by the level of scholarship of the author, with numerous facts to back up her assertions. There are examples from history and the current day. The writing is anything but dry, however. The author writes with passion and a wry sense of humor. I am glad that she read the book herself; I found her voice very strong and appealing. I believe that this book will enter the ranks of classics of feminist writing. I have listened to it once, and plan to listen to it again. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

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11 people found this helpful

A Personal and Historical View of Putin's Russia

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 08-13-18

I wanted to listen to this book as a result of Putin's request at the Helsinki summit for several Americans to be "interviewed," with McFaul among them. This is a very detailed account of recent decades in Russia, by a person who has been involved in the promotion of democracy there, and who was ambassador to Russia during the Obama administration. I learned a lot about the reasons why the movement toward democracy in Russia did not last, about Putin's rise to power, about his belief system/paranoia, and about several historical events in recent decades, including the annexation of Crimea, the invasion of Ukraine, etc. This book is most appropriate for people who are history buffs, and who want to know the inner workings of certain aspects of government and diplomacy. The book is quite detailed, and not every listener will want to hear this much detail, I would imagine. As a result of listening to the book, I developed tremendous respect for the author and his dedication to working toward the development and support of democracy. The narrator is quite good. There are numerous Russian names throughout the book, and although I don't speak Russian, his pronunciation sounded quite skilled. I am glad that I listened to the book in order to understand more about the current situation with Russia; I am listening to several books on this topic, and appreciated the fact that this one included a personal perspective.

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1 person found this helpful

Like being a fellow traveller on the open road...

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 07-20-18

I remember when this book was published to acclaim several decades ago, when I was too busy with graduate school to read for pleasure. I'm so glad that I decided to give it a try; it has garnered a spot on my "Top 5 Audiobook Listens." Like the author, I prefer to drive the "Blue Highways," the two-lane roads that meander through the cities and towns, rather than the interstates that allow for faster arrival at a destination, but deprive the traveller of experiencing the deeper character of the people and places along the way. The narrative is a masterful weaving of personal thoughts and feelings, a poetic observation of the natural world, a journey into history, and an encounter with a wide variety of the quirky characters and cultures that make our country so fascinating. The author's distinctive voice includes a large portion of humor, wry, a bit world-weary, and gently self-deprecating. I often found myself laughing out loud .

The narrator's voice was perfect for this material; it had a pleasantly "gravelly" quality that never grated on my ears. I only caught one place-name mispronuncation: "Yuh-KEE-muh" rather than Yeah-kuh-MAW," in eastern Washington state. The voice actor has an uncanny talent for voicing a variety of accents for men and women, young and old, with an attitude of appreciation rather than caricature. These were performed with humor that never lapsed into mockery. I found myself wanting to re-listen to sections of the book as I went along, and didn't want the book to end. I experienced some wistful feelings of days gone by, of a time in our country when things were far from perfect, but before we had experienced 9/11 and the jarring divisiveness that has come into being. The book was a welcome respite from the toxic news cycle, reminding me that there are interesting places to explore and good people to meet along the way.

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